Senior Bowl: Braxton Miller, Dak Prescott proving doubters wrong
Braxton Miller and Dak Prescott are household names to college football fans. This does not matter to NFL executives during Senior Bowl week where everyone starts fresh.
Braxton Miller and Dak Prescott are two of the many college football seniors to descend to Mobile for the Senior Bowl. Both Miller and Prescott are looking to answer questions NFL teams have about how their games translate to the next level.
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Miller was one of college football’s biggest winners and best players before he missed the 2014 championship season with his second shoulder surgery. He switched from quarterback to wide receiver his final season for the betterment of both his team and career. Making the switch during his college career has helped him shorten the learning curve.
“I’m at an advantage and ahead of the game. Now it’s just getting the little details down to be a receiver,” Miller explained after Senior Bowl practice.
Miller has turned heads during Senior Bowl week. The speed and athleticism are noticeable in practice even if he is still trying to fine-tune his craft. He noted he expects to run a 40 time in the 4.3’s next month at the combine.
After his statement game against Virginia Tech to open the season, Miller did not exactly have an amazing statistical season. It is important for NFL teams to remember Miller has been a wide receiver for months not years.
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Prescott won’t be asked to make a position switch after setting numerous school records at Mississippi State. He has 27 wins over the past three seasons in a place not known for consistently winning football games and has all the intangibles teams covet but he needs to show NFL executives he can make plays in the pocket during Senior Bowl week and throw with anticipation and accuracy..
Given the right coaching staff and his natural ability, the potential is there for him to be a great pro. Prescott spoke to his own maturation as a player as well.
“I came in five years ago to Mississippi State from high school not even reading the defensive end, Prescott said.” “Now, being at the graduate level of the game I am able to call my own plays and get us in the right play to make sure we’re in the right position for every situation.”
Early in the draft process, he is projected as a mid-round selection.
We enter a time of year where players will raise their draft stock in t-shirts and shorts. This is not to say measurables are not important, but they are only part of the process.
For those that doubt Miller or Prescott there are years of game film to prove they are winners. That is, after all, the best predictor of success: how a player actually plays football.
The goal for each player should not be to simply go as high as possible, but to go to a team that believes in what they are capable of becoming at the next level.
More saturday blitz: NFL Mock Draft: Super Bowl Edition
The draft evaluation process can be a confusing time, but each player just needs one team to like them enough to turn the card in with their name on it. If the start of Senior Bowl week is any indication, there may be multiple teams looking to hand in that card.
All quotes were obtained first-hand at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile. AL.